'Iron Chef' brings food, style to Cavaliers, Quicken Loans Arena

  Acclaimed Chef Michael Symon Brings His Signature Menu to Quicken Loans Arena, in Partnership with Cleveland Cavaliers and ARAMARK

Off-season menu and service upgrades, designed to enhance the dining experience, await guests

Cleveland's own award-winning chef and Food Network star Michael Symon is taking his culinary talent to a whole new arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers and ARAMARK- a world-class leader in professional services and the Cavs' exclusive food and beverage provider-have teamed up with Symon to bring his signature cuisine to Quicken Loans Arena. The partnership with Symon, winner of the James Beard Foundation's award for the 2009 "Best Chef in the Great Lakes Region," is one of many new food and service enhancements to be introduced this season at Quicken Loans Arena.

"Our goal is to give fans attending events a total entertainment experience, and that includes providing quality dining choices and a variety of food options," said Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski. "We applaud ARAMARK for their innovation in food service and welcome the highly acclaimed culinary talent of Michael Symon, who will set a new standard for dining in a sports and entertainment venue."

As part of the partnership, two Symon-branded dining destinations at The Q will be open for all Cavaliers games and for most arena events. Additionally, customized catering packages, featuring Symon's signature menu, will be designed exclusively for arena suite-holders.

The B Spot -- burgers, beers and brats, named after Symon's soon-to-be opened restaurant at Eton in Woodmere, Ohio, will be located off the Quicken Loans Arena main concourse near the Cavaliers Team Shop. The menu will feature his signature burgers, brats and craft beers.

• Plain Jane - simply a burger
• Plain Jane with Cheese - you get the drift!
• Bacon Burger - crunchy, smoked bacon and American cheese
• "Symon Says" - burger with fried bologna, American cheese, coleslaw and whip sauce
• Cleveland Bratwurst - beer bratwurst with coleslaw and hot sauce
• Lola fries - with rosemary

Bar Symon at The Q -- located on the arena's Huntington Bank Club Level (level four), is named after his recently opened establishment in Avon Lake, Ohio. It will share an abbreviated menu from the restaurant. Featured menu items will include:

Signature Plates
• Pork Pastrami - sandwich with coleslaw, stadium mustard and Swiss cheese on rye bread
• Mac & Cheese - made with rosemary, goat cheese and roasted tomatoes
• Symon Fried Chicken - tossed with parsley and spicy honey
• Cleveland Bratwurst - beer bratwurst with coleslaw and hot sauce

Chips & Dip
• House made chips with bleu cheese fondue
• House made chips with rosemary and parmesan fondue

Uptown Popcorn
• Popcorn with chili flakes, feta and oregano
• Popcorn with smoked paprika and white cheddar

Arena Suite-holder Menu Options

Ala Carte
• Chips with three fondues
• Chilled shrimp with orange, fennel and olives
• Barberton style fried chicken with spicy honey and parmesan
• Mac & cheese with rosemary, goat cheese and roasted tomatoes

Suite Package
• Chips with three fondues
• Chilled Shrimp with orange, fennel and olives
• Root vegetable salad with feta, dill and almonds
• Duck confit slider with cilantro, jalapeno and carrots
• "Big Board" of assorted sausages and pickled vegetables (off the Bar Symon menu)

"Having grown up in Cleveland, I'm excited to partner with the Cavaliers and ARAMARK to help create the ultimate dining experience at The Q for the NBA's best fans," said Michael Symon. "Food is an integral part of the arena entertainment experience and I'm looking forward to working with ARAMARK to introduce menu offerings that reflect the great tastes and flavors of this city."

"Our partnership with Michael brings together the best of Cleveland's sports and culinary worlds under one roof to create a dining environment that complements the first-rate entertainment experience the team has created for its guests at Quicken Loans Arena," said Kevin Kearney, District Manager, ARAMARK Sports, Entertainment & Conventions. "We look forward to working with Michael to provide guests with new, award-winning and innovative concepts that will bring a unique Cleveland flair to the menu offerings."

Fans attending games this season will also notice significant changes and enhancements that bring the fun and energy of Cavaliers, Monsters and Quicken Loans Arena events to dining locations throughout The Q. An added emphasis has been put on offering a menu with more variety, quality and freshness.

New branding and signage at concession stands conveys the personality of food and beverage offerings and reflects The Q's entertainment atmosphere, particularly in Loudville, the Cavaliers fan-friendly community for upper level ticket holders:

• Moondog's Hotdogs & More - dogs, popcorn, peanuts and pretzels
• Loudville Grille - burgers, dogs, grilled chicken sandwich, Italian sausage and fries
• Fryin' Out Loud - fries, chicken tenders, burgers and dogs
• Draft Picks - draft beer
• Beer Here - premium and domestic bottle beers

The main concourse attractions feature:

• Cheers & Beers - full service bar
• Cleveland (on the) Rocks - full service bar
• Za! (DiGiorno Pizza) - pizza
• Fanfare - hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts and candy
• Nacho Loco - nachos, pretzels and peanuts

Also new this season is NJ's Soft Pretzels, known for its gluten-free pretzels. Guests will continue to find their arena favorites:

• Quaker Steak & Lube
• Zoup! Soup
• Cold Stone Creamery

The Just 4U location features an assortment of healthier fare, such as vegetarian and gluten-free menu options, so all fans, regardless of dietary restrictions, can enjoy the ultimate event experience.

Other service upgrades include:

• Outfitting all concession stands with easy-to-read digital menu boards;
• Installing a new state-of-the-art point of sale system to improve payment efficiency and speed of service; and
• Updating the interior of Bridges, The Q's fine dining restaurant, for a more modern look and feel. Bridges is operated under the direction of popular local restaurateur Marie Betts.

About Michael Symon: Renowned in the culinary world and adored in his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio, Michael Symon is chef/owner of critically acclaimed restaurants Lola and Lolita; and chef/partner of Roast, in Detroit, Michigan and the newly opened Bar Symon in Avon Lake, Ohio. Michael earned his reputation through the years for his thoughtful Mid-Western cooking style.
Most recently, Michael was awarded The James Beard Foundation's Award for Best Chef in The Great Lakes Region (2009). He became one of five Iron Chefs on The Food Network's Iron Chef America and hosted Season 5 of Dinner: Impossible.

Michael has been named National Rising Star by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, awarded Top Ten Best New Chef's by Food and Wine Magazine, and America's Best Restaurants in Gourmet Magazine. Michael was also featured in Michael Ruhlman's book, The Soul of a Chef,

His first cookbook, Michael Symon: Live to Cook, is scheduled to be released in November 2009.